FTA: The elderly shouldn't need to wait until they're dead to experience the kindness of strangers

I couldn't agree more. I'm not currently doing this, but years ago I participated in an 'adopt a grandparent' program at some Catholic old age facilities. I know a wee bit of ASL so I was paired with an elderly woman who was deaf and non-vocal. The facility didn't have anyone fluent in ASL, and her vision was poor. She had a son who lived somewhat locally, but he was a dickhole.

I've always really liked old people. They're blunt because they're old and they think about dying a lot. So a lot of the social bullshiat is just gone, and they're generally happy as hell to talk about their past. I find that utterly fascinating.

Not everyone is as weird as me, so if listening to old people ramble on (I could spend days with Grandpa Simpson utterly entertained, I really could) there's tons of other things you can do. Arrange to take pets (that can behave) to visit an old age facility. If you have a hobby you could bring it to a facility and enrich their lives. If you're a gamer, think of how much games could enrich the lives of people who are mentally fit, but physically infirm.

sprgrss:So the man has no relatives or anything, then what does it matter if people come to his funeral?

It's something that matters muchly to most humans. I don't entirely understand it and I'm on the outs with some relatives at the moment because I don't do the funeral/wake thing (I find it a little obscene to be honest). But it is a very very big deal to most people, and a way that they honor the person who died. If no one goes, then it sorta says no one honored their life/their life didn't matter. The specific appeal in the article being that he is a military vet, and all citizens should honor the sacrifices made by such people. At least that's one aspect of it. Another (and this one I do get) is that we're very social monkeys and the thought of one of our monkeys going off alone is very discomforting. If they had said only one son could attend, or only one grandchild...that isn't as abhorrent to us as 'no one will attend'. Alone is a very awful thing for social animals.

Iron Chef Scottish:So every WW2 Allied serviceman is now a hero? He was farking ground crew. It's good & necessary to pay respect to these people but 'hero'? No. And I strongly suspect the deceased would say the same.

Compared to your generation of Nintendo-playing smart-mouths, yeah, they're all an heroes.

You know, I'm not 100% sure, but that looks a lot like the feller whose birthday 4chan celebrated a few years ago. He received an outpouring of well-wishes, cards, and just a ton of support in a rare moment of golden good from 4chan. It got real dusty on that old website that day.

The people of Great Britain went thru a lot in WWII , I think even the civilians were heroes in that war. This man does not deserve to go out alone even tho he lived his life on his own. It's a shame that he has no one to attend but strangers. He lived alone passing thru many lives in his travels so perhaps there really are no strangers in attendance but people he hadn't had a chance to meet yet.

Lady Indica:FTA: The elderly shouldn't need to wait until they're dead to experience the kindness of strangers

I couldn't agree more. I'm not currently doing this, but years ago I participated in an 'adopt a grandparent' program at some Catholic old age facilities. I know a wee bit of ASL so I was paired with an elderly woman who was deaf and non-vocal. The facility didn't have anyone fluent in ASL, and her vision was poor. She had a son who lived somewhat locally, but he was a dickhole.

I've always really liked old people. They're blunt because they're old and they think about dying a lot. So a lot of the social bullshiat is just gone, and they're generally happy as hell to talk about their past. I find that utterly fascinating.

Not everyone is as weird as me, so if listening to old people ramble on (I could spend days with Grandpa Simpson utterly entertained, I really could) there's tons of other things you can do. Arrange to take pets (that can behave) to visit an old age facility. If you have a hobby you could bring it to a facility and enrich their lives. If you're a gamer, think of how much games could enrich the lives of people who are mentally fit, but physically infirm.

I did something really stupid when I was a teenager and got slammed with 250 hours of community service. One of the things I could do was basically hang out at the community center with the old folks and doing stuff like helping them with meals(they got a free lunch) and just be there interacting with them.

Best. Punishment. Ever.

Got to hear some hellacious war stories, learn to play mean game of dominoes, drink a ton of booze those geezers smuggled in and had a veritable river of poon open up for me as all the grand daughters thought that a young man "choosing" to spend time listening to Gramps ramble on was sexy.

Oh and it was just FUN.

I clocked in about twice as many hours as necessary because it was just damn cool.

IronOcelot:Got to hear some hellacious war stories, learn to play mean game of dominoes, drink a ton of booze those geezers smuggled in and had a veritable river of poon open up for me as all the grand daughters thought that a young man "choosing" to spend time listening to Gramps ramble on was sexy.

That sentence ended MUCH better than I thought it would at about the halfway mark.

Iron Chef Scottish:So every WW2 Allied serviceman is now a hero? He was farking ground crew. It's good & necessary to pay respect to these people but 'hero'? No. And I strongly suspect the deceased would say the same.

You don't think the ground crew is important? They keep the equipment working.

ladyfortuna:Iron Chef Scottish: So every WW2 Allied serviceman is now a hero? He was farking ground crew. It's good & necessary to pay respect to these people but 'hero'? No. And I strongly suspect the deceased would say the same.

You don't think the ground crew is important? They keep the equipment working.

Also let Toby show ya'll how it's done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqLIH2UiPXg

Important =/= hero.One of my grandfathers repaired boots in Derbyshire during the war. Clearly important stuff. Heroic? No.The other served in the LRDG and came back farked in the head, never speaking about his experiences to anyone. He may have been a hero, but he'd have punched the lights out of anyone that called him that.

ladyfortuna:Iron Chef Scottish: So every WW2 Allied serviceman is now a hero? He was farking ground crew. It's good & necessary to pay respect to these people but 'hero'? No. And I strongly suspect the deceased would say the same.

You don't think the ground crew is important? They keep the equipment working.

It has emerged that Mr Percival was one of four siblings, but lived a 'nomadic lifestyle' and never married nor had children.His nephew, David Worsell, said: 'He was a private man, he worked in Australia for a number of years as a decorator and would visit England for holidays.

I know it's been years since it was done, but this is how obituaries used to subtly let people know that the decedent was gay.

Iron Chef Scottish:So every WW2 Allied serviceman is now a hero? He was farking ground crew. It's good & necessary to pay respect to these people but 'hero'? No. And I strongly suspect the deceased would say the same.

If you'd been aircrew, your airrcraft ("T for Twat") would have been the plane the erks never changed the oil or spark plugs for. As the Vietnam War expression went, "sorry 'bout that", as they looked at your chalked name wiped off the ops board.

Lady Indica:sprgrss: So the man has no relatives or anything, then what does it matter if people come to his funeral?

It's something that matters muchly to most humans. I don't entirely understand it and I'm on the outs with some relatives at the moment because I don't do the funeral/wake thing (I find it a little obscene to be honest). But it is a very very big deal to most people, and a way that they honor the person who died. If no one goes, then it sorta says no one honored their life/their life didn't matter. The specific appeal in the article being that he is a military vet, and all citizens should honor the sacrifices made by such people. At least that's one aspect of it. Another (and this one I do get) is that we're very social monkeys and the thought of one of our monkeys going off alone is very discomforting. If they had said only one son could attend, or only one grandchild...that isn't as abhorrent to us as 'no one will attend'. Alone is a very awful thing for social animals.

Completely off topic but this is almost word for word my argument for same sex marriages. And how awful for some people to decide for others that they should be alone for life!

BolshyGreatYarblocks:Iron Chef Scottish: So every WW2 Allied serviceman is now a hero? He was farking ground crew. It's good & necessary to pay respect to these people but 'hero'? No. And I strongly suspect the deceased would say the same.

If you'd been aircrew, your airrcraft ("T for Twat") would have been the plane the erks never changed the oil or spark plugs for. As the Vietnam War expression went, "sorry 'bout that", as they looked at your chalked name wiped off the ops board.

So you're saying the ground crew is a bunch of dicks with no concern for safety or winning battles? WTF?

mikebdoss:BolshyGreatYarblocks: Iron Chef Scottish: So every WW2 Allied serviceman is now a hero? He was farking ground crew. It's good & necessary to pay respect to these people but 'hero'? No. And I strongly suspect the deceased would say the same.

If you'd been aircrew, your airrcraft ("T for Twat") would have been the plane the erks never changed the oil or spark plugs for. As the Vietnam War expression went, "sorry 'bout that", as they looked at your chalked name wiped off the ops board.

So you're saying the ground crew is a bunch of dicks with no concern for safety or winning battles? WTF?

He's talking about Vietnam. They had orders to take it easy on the gooks.

Lsherm:It has emerged that Mr Percival was one of four siblings, but lived a 'nomadic lifestyle' and never married nor had children.His nephew, David Worsell, said: 'He was a private man, he worked in Australia for a number of years as a decorator and would visit England for holidays.

I know it's been years since it was done, but this is how obituaries used to subtly let people know that the decedent was gay.

I read it the same way. He traveled the world and kept to himself because he was what Britain essentially executed Turing for.

The dust fairy just kicked my ass across the room... Wonderful story, I'm excited to hear how it turns out, I can't think of a better way for anyone to spend their memorial minute on Remembrance Day (aka Veterans Day I guess?).

Sometimes I hate you, internet. Sometimes I love you. This is one of those times. But why do you have to be so bi-polar? We can work through this together, internet. You and me. If we really devote ourselves to it. I believe in this relationship, internet. Times like this makes me believe. Can we try, really try this time, internet?

Meanwhile, barely a tear drop hit a beer for Oberstleutnant Martin Drewes, the winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, passed away on October 13 in Blumenau, Santa Catarina, of natural causes at the age of 94.

...which is just fine. I'm sure a couple Brazilians paid their respects... maybe kicked a few dirt clods in.

Lsherm:It has emerged that Mr Percival was one of four siblings, but lived a 'nomadic lifestyle' and never married nor had children.His nephew, David Worsell, said: 'He was a private man, he worked in Australia for a number of years as a decorator and would visit England for holidays.

I know it's been years since it was done, but this is how obituaries used to subtly let people know that the decedent was gay.

The article doesn't say so, but perhaps it's a sign that the remaining extended family will not be attending.

As a society we are told not to "speak ill" of the dead etc, but death is the ultimate "settling of the account". It is when final stock of one's life is taken. For that reason, why are we surprised and saddened when someone like this who didn't cultivate relationships in life has no one to mourn him in death?

Lady Indica:FTA: The elderly shouldn't need to wait until they're dead to experience the kindness of strangers

I couldn't agree more. I'm not currently doing this, but years ago I participated in an 'adopt a grandparent' program at some Catholic old age facilities. I know a wee bit of ASL so I was paired with an elderly woman who was deaf and non-vocal. The facility didn't have anyone fluent in ASL, and her vision was poor. She had a son who lived somewhat locally, but he was a dickhole.

I've always really liked old people. They're blunt because they're old and they think about dying a lot. So a lot of the social bullshiat is just gone, and they're generally happy as hell to talk about their past. I find that utterly fascinating.

Not everyone is as weird as me, so if listening to old people ramble on (I could spend days with Grandpa Simpson utterly entertained, I really could) there's tons of other things you can do. Arrange to take pets (that can behave) to visit an old age facility. If you have a hobby you could bring it to a facility and enrich their lives. If you're a gamer, think of how much games could enrich the lives of people who are mentally fit, but physically infirm.

We had an 'Adopt a Grandparent' program too. We went to different nursing homes in the area and spent time with people who never had visitors. They were so thrilled to have someone pay attention to them...and yes, they LOVED to talk about their lives. The one thing I remember our pastor telling us was." Be careful what you promise them,they do not forget a promise made to them"... I got scolded because I forgot to bring some brownies to one of the grandparents. It ONLY happened once! :)

Lady Indica:sprgrss: So the man has no relatives or anything, then what does it matter if people come to his funeral?

It's something that matters muchly to most humans. I don't entirely understand it and I'm on the outs with some relatives at the moment because I don't do the funeral/wake thing (I find it a little obscene to be honest). But it is a very very big deal to most people, and a way that they honor the person who died. If no one goes, then it sorta says no one honored their life/their life didn't matter. The specific appeal in the article being that he is a military vet, and all citizens should honor the sacrifices made by such people. At least that's one aspect of it. Another (and this one I do get) is that we're very social monkeys and the thought of one of our monkeys going off alone is very discomforting. If they had said only one son could attend, or only one grandchild...that isn't as abhorrent to us as 'no one will attend'. Alone is a very awful thing for social animals.

I dont like funerals much myself, something about gathering with a bunch of people you barely know around a box with a corpse in it just doesnt seem quite right to me.